Method and apparatus for sorting and distributing mail and the like



' March 29, 1932.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND THE LIKE R. HILL Filed Oct. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet I Li LL l/vrwron.

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March 29, 1932. H|L! 1,851,958.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND THE LIKE D Filed Oct. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rosin-r HILL a /NVEN7'0K.

March 29, 1932. 1,851,958

METHOD ND APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 21, 1929' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q I /IYVEN ran.

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March 29, 1932. R. HILL 1,851,958

METHOD .AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oc t. "21, 1929 .27 Z5 T I I l' 15/ 1 E 12 1 I 1 .1 B4- 1 1/ 24 I 1 $.11 1 1 I I. 1 1 1 2 I ,l

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Poss/r1- HILL Patented Mar. 29, 1932' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v ROBERT HILL, 0F A YLMER, QUEBEC, CANADA METHOD AND A PI ABATUS FOR SORT ING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL AND THE LIKE Application filed October 21, 1929,.Seria1 No. 401,288,and in Canada September 26, 1929.

' separate and co-pending application for pattribution for final destination points and to secondary or auxiliary distributingmembers.

With the foregoing and other objects hereinafter more fully referred to, the novel features of the invention comprise a movably mounted member and a fixedly mounted member including a plurality ofspaced partitions suspended at a predetermined angle relative to the movable member, whereby sorting troughs with a common movable base are provided to remove letters and the like and cause same to automatically assume a predetermined position on being placed therein,means integral with the troughs for retaining the letters in such predetermined position in transit and for automatically discharging the letters, sorted; i

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure Fig. 1 is a plan view of the distributing member.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through center of the distributing member.

Fig. 4is a sectional elevation showing the connection between the distributing member and the stackers,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of theseparators for the stacker belts.

Fig. 6 is an; enlarged detail in sectional elevation of the standardand bearing'for the distributing member.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which anexample of the apparatus is disclosed, A designates the distributing member as a whole, and B the supporting standard, comprising the hollow standard B adapted to be fixedly mounted in any suitable manner to a floor or the like. On the hollow standard B, is a sleeve or outer hollow member 11 threaded at both ends, asat 12, and adaptedto rotate the standard by means of ball bearings 13 and 14. These bearings are held in position by collars l5 and 16 and the rings 17 and 18 spaced therefrom and connected thereto by bolts 19 and 20. The rings and collars are all associated with the member 11, while on the fixed standard B is a collar 21 through which extend adjusting screws '22, adapted to engage with the bearings 14. The collar 16 screw-connected to member 11is formed with agroove 23 to engage with a belt or the like for driving the apparatus and hereinafter more fully referred t'o.. 1 I

Between the adjustable collars 15 and 16 on the member 11, are designed to fit the nose shaped and squared ends of a plurality "of supports 24 of any suitable material, and rigidly held in position by said rings. These supports extend fan like from the member 11 which forms a hub and are of substantially triangular shape to carry a slanting top and to provide in combination therewith, the rotatably mounted truncated cone member 25.

The extreme top or apex of the member 25 is preferably, as here shown, recessed or saucer shaped at 26, while beneath this member, and in spaced relationship thereto, is a supporting table or platform 27 conforming. to the contour of the member 25.

Suspended above the member 25 in cantilever fashion and in rotatable relationship thereto, by means of spaced ribs 29, fixedly secured in any well known manner to the table 27, are a plurality or series of spaced partitions 30 suspended circumferentially and, as here shown, almost completely around and. above the member 25, providing a gap '31 between the closed ends 32 and the downwardly extending run off opposite ends 33; This gap in close proximity to the center of the dis" tributing member A It will be understood, however, that it is also adapted to any'other suitable means for retaining matter other than mail, ready for delivery to the distributing member... For example, with inodifications as suggested above in the construction of the partitions, the top of the member 25 may be used to accommodatea hopper orthe like to which matter or material for sorting would be delivered in any well known manner, and from which it would be taken to the partitions, where it would be automatically sorted and at the same time progressively moved. The automatic stacker forms the subject matter for a separate and co-pending application, it is, therefore, not deemed necessary to enter further into the details of construction in this application.

The fixedly suspended partitions 30, form ing incombination with the member 25, sorting troughs with a movable common base and the special construction of these partitions, as well as their angle of relationship to the member 25, as hereinafter more fully described, comprise essential and basic features of the improved master distributing member.

so arranged as to perform a double function, by fixedly suspending the partitions and vertically dividing the top s'urfaoe thereof into sections opposite to each of which asorter may be seated for handling the mail. 7

As disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4:;inclusive, the partitionsBO are adaptedto form with the rotating member 25 the troughs 3-1, each of which is, as shown, labeled or otherwise marked, as at 35, (see Fig. 2) to indicate a destination point for letters or the like, thereby enabling the sorters to see at once where they are to place the letters.

Referring now to the construction of the partitions 30, whichwith the specially'prepared gripping surface of the member 25. a id their angle of application thereto, auto matically cause letters deposited in the troughs 34, to immediately assume a position on edge, and while moving to automatically retain same in this position until discharged under the influence of the progressive move ment through the run offs 33 and by gravity. This is also another basic feature of my invention and is provided for by their angleof application and the twist and curvature of brace 47 for the ribs 29. It may here be mentioned that the ribs 29 are" the troughs, in combination with the downwardly extending run off ends 33.

It will further be noted that while the partitions 30 are at substantially right angles to the surface of the member 25, they are curved or twisted adjacent the downwardly extending run off ends 33, as at 36, whereby on letters travelling therein on edge, as already described, reaching this point and being in touch with one of the side walls of a trough, they will automatically move still on edge to contact with the opositeside wall and thus obviate any tendency to be caught between the rotating surface of the member 25 forming the bottom of the troughs, which is rotatably spaced therefrom, as at 37 From the curvature or twist 36, the troughs are straight with a downward slant to individually engage 'with a series of automatic smokers-38 (see Fig. 1), provided with star wheels operatively retaining arms and of well'known construction. These stackers are driven bya roller 39 which may be provided with discs betweeneach of which of the stacker belts, the roller 39 being provided with a pulley 4O connectedby a belt 41 to a prime mover, or the like (not shown). I also provide, as illustrated in Fig. 5, substantially V shaped separators 42 adapted to detachably fit into a retaining memberor board 43 and connected together bya rod 44. A. series of belts 45,

operatingbetween the members 42, carries the email to the stackers 38.

For the top of the fixed standard 13, I provide a cap 46 of any suitable construction to which are rigidly anchored supporting In the present example of the invention, the operation is as follows :.A motor or the like (not shown) for driving the member 25, is brought into action to rotate this member at any desired speed through the belt l5 and collar 16. The letters are then taken from a stacker by the sorters sitting around the table 27 and dropped into the different troughs or compartments 34, according to the destinations to which the letters are ultimately delivered. Troughs for letters for final destination points and for further primary separation arebeing designated accordingly. All are'dumped by the sorters into the troughs 34;, where they at once assume a position on edge travelling around in the troughs until they reach the twist or curve 36 adjacent to the run offs where the letters automatically and still on edge change from one side of a trough to another, and then shoot out in the downwardly slanted run off portions of the troughs, under the influence of the speed imparted to them while in transit through'the troughs, as'well as by gravity, where those letters for final destination points drop sorted onto the automaticstackers 38 forremoval accordingly, while those letters for further primary separation, are dropped on to: combined conveyor trough and stacker mechanism, forming the subject matter of a separate co-pending application, in turn communicating with subsidiary or auxiliary distributing members from which they are ultimately discharged and stacked for final destination points. It will be understood that while the device is here shown and described as used for the speeding up of post ofiice operations in the sorting and distribution of letter mail, that it can also, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, be applied to the mechanical sorting distribution of other matter and material with equally satisfactory results. For example with slight modifications involving only a reduction in the number of troughs, the sorting and distributing member may be adapted and used as an improved mail facing machine, and as such, will more efficiently perform the functions heretofore carried out by existing devices of this description.

It should also be noted that as the letters are dropped into the sorting troughs they will automatically, due to the angle at which these troughs are fixed relative to the cone-shaped member forming the moving base, assume a position on edge as they circulate around in the trough, while at the same time, the speed at which they travel in the troughs is automatically increased from the moment the letter are thrown in until they are discharged by the whirling movement of the cone-shaped member. In other words, as the letters come in contact with the rotating base of the troughs, they will at the first contact naturally move slower than after being spun around within the trough and the impetus or speed thus given materially assists in the subsequent discharge of the letters to the stackers and conveyors.

As many changes could be made in. the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of the claims constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter con tained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim for my invention is:

1. In a sorting and distributing apparatus for mail, the combination with a substantially cone-shaped rotatable member of a plurality of bottomless troughs of resilient material fixedly mounted in co-operative relationship with the rotating member and controlled means for operating the rotating member.

2. A master sorting and distributing apparatus for mail comprising a plurality of fix edly mounted resilient troughsand a rotatably mounted cone-shaped member beneath said troughs forming a common base for the troughs.

' 3. A sorting'and distributing apparatus comprising a rotatable cone shaped member and'a fixedly mounted sorting member cooperating with the rotating member and comprising a plurality of substantially circularly spaced guideways in operative relation with and at a predetermined angle to the rotatable member. i 4. A combined sorting and distributing member comprising a plurality'of fixedly mounted suitably curved partitions, a rotatably mounted substantially cone shaped member co'operating with. said partitions to form troughs with a movable common base and controlled means for moving the base.

5. The invention according toclaim 4 in which the fixed: partitions are at'right angles 'gelative to the surface of the rotating'mem- 6. The invention according toclaim 4. in which the partitions are open at one end and downwardly extended'to formrun offs.

7. The inventionaccording toclaim 4 in which the artitions are suitably curved or twisted ad acent one end to further automatically retain selected material in transit therein in a predetermined position.

8, In a combined sorting and distributing device the combinationwith a series of fixedly mounted substantially circular guideways of a rotatable suitabl surfaced cone-shaped member beneath sai g'uideways to form a common movable base therefor, said guideways being at substantially right angles to said rotatable member.

9. The invention according toclaim4 in which the troughs are individually marked to indicate different destination points for letters and other matter deposited therein.

10. A combined sorting and distributing apparatus comprising a rotatable coneshaped member, a plurality of fixed partitions adapted to form with said member, troughs, controlled driving mechanism for moving said member, whereby on mail matter and the like being deposited in said troughs, a predetermined accelerated movement is automatically imparted thereto.

11. A combined sorting and distributing member comprising a rotatable truncated cone, a plurality of fixed suitably formed partions with indiciathereon adapted. to form with said member, sorting troughs, said troughs having open run off ends, means for operating said cone, whereby on mail matter and the like beingdeposited in the troughs, an accelerated movement is automatically imparted to such mail, and means for automatically discharging the matter from the troughs under the influence of the speed imparted thereto.

12. In a master sorting and distributing member for letter mail, a rotatably mounted cone-shaped member with a suitable surface, intermediately bent and suitably curved partitions fixedly suspended in proximity to said member and at a predetermined angle thereto to form a series of troughs with said member, whereby on saidmember being rotated an accelerated movement is'automatically impartedto matter deposited in the troughs, and whereby such .matter so deposited automatically assumes a predetermined position and is automatically returned in such position while in transittherethrough. V

13. In a master. sorting and distributing member, the combination with a rotatable cone member provided with a gripping surface, of a plurality of spaced partitions fixedly suspended at a predetermined angle rel- I a ative to thesai'd member to provide sorting troughs of suitable dimensionswith a common movable base and controlled prime-mover means for operating the movable member.

14. In master distributing apparatus 'for mail matter and the like, the combination with a suitably formed table, of a rotatable truncated cone member in spaced suspended 'relationshipto said table and a plurality of concentrically arranged partitions fixedly suspended in operative relationship to said member. v

15.- In master distributing apparatus for mail matter and the like, the combination with a rotatable/truncated cone member, of a plurality of concentrically arranged partitions fixedly suspended in operative relationship'relative to said member, means formed in the cone for receiving and holding mail matter prior to being sorted into the partitions, and. means integral with the partitions for automatically retaining mail, matter sorted thereinto, on edge and for automatically discharging such mail matter at substantially right angles to the direction of travel of the cone member. 7 V

16. A. master distributor and momentum generator for mail matter and material comprising a rotatable truncated cone with a recessed apex, a pluralityof fixedly suspended troughs concentrically arranged in operative relationship to the cone, said troughs being intermediately bent and formed with discharge chute portions at one end.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT HILL.

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